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Line 19: − − === The Birth of Moses === − [[Moses]] was born at about this time, the son of [[Amram]] and [[Jochebed]]. Amram, a [[Levite]] and the son of [[Kohath]], one of [[Levi]]'s three named descendants in the preceding generation, already had two children by Jochebed: a daughter, [[Miriam]], and a son, [[Aaron]]. Moses' birth presented an immediate problem: how to conceal him from the king's soldiers? − − Jochebed solved the problem in a unique manner: she built a basket for the baby, coated the basket with pitch, placed Moses into it, and set it floating down the Nile. In this, Moses' journey recalled the voyage of [[Noah's Ark]]. − − Eventually, Moses' little ark drifted into the waters outside the royal residence of the Pharaoh's daughter. She herself was infertile, and saw Moses as a substitute for the child she could never have. She gave the child the name Moses, which literally means ''drawn out'' in Egyptian and Hebrew.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Exodus|chap=2|verses=1-10}}</ref> − − The name of this daughter of Pharaoh was probably [[Sobekneferu]].<ref name=Jaroncyk/> In this connection, one must remember that female members of the royal family were always described in terms of their relationship to Pharaoh, e.g. "Pharaon's Wife" or "Pharaoh's Sister" or, as in this case, "Pharaoh's Daughter."<ref name=Tyldesley>Tyldesley, Joyce A. ''Hatchepsut: the Female Pharaoh''. New York: Penguin Books, 1998 (ISBN 0140244646).</ref> − − === Moses in Exile === − Sobekneferu (if it was she) had intended raising Moses as a prince of Egypt. Some authorities have suggested that Moses appears in the Twelfth Dynasty king lists as [[Amenemhet IV]].<ref name=Jaroncyk/> − − But Moses identified not with the royal family but instead with his own people. Soon an incident occurred that required Moses to make a choice: he witnessed an Egyptian taskmaster beating a Hebrew. Moses looked this way and that, and then killed the Egyptian and buried him in the sand. − − News like that travels fast. Two days later, Moses caught two Hebrews fighting and tried to settle the quarrel. The man at fault challenged Moses, saying, {{Bible quote|Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian?|book=Exodus|chap=2|verses=14|version=KJV}} − − Moses fled immediately. His exile had begun. He was forty years old at the time, according to the testimony, centuries later, of [[Stephen]] before the [[Sanhedrin]] in [[Jerusalem]].<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Acts|chap=7|verses=23}}</ref> − − === Moses Finds a Wife === − Moses eventually came to the country of the [[Midianite]]s. There he fought against some shepherds who were harassing a number of women who were trying to water their own sheep.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Exodus|chap=2|verses=17}}</ref> This won him the attention and favor of [[Jethro]], the father of these women. Eventually, Moses married the eldest of Jethro's daughters, [[Zipporah]]. Here the Book of [[Exodus]] records that he sired one son, [[Gershom]]. − − The Bible makes no attempt to identify these shepherds. Nor does [[Flavius Josephus]].<ref>[[Flavius Josephus|Josephus, Flavius]]. ''The Antiquities of the Jews'', 2.11.2.258-263. William Whiston, trans. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1987, p. 70. ISBN 0913573868</ref> The historical warrant for the popular supposition that these shepherds were [[Amalekite]]s is therefore lacking. However, the Amalekites ''were'' known to be shepherds—and, more to the point, the Hyksos, which some identify with the Amalekites, were known as the "Shepherd Kings."<ref name=Jaroncyk/><ref name=Hyksos>Authors unknown. "[http://www.specialtyinterests.net/hyksos.html The Hyksos]." ''SpecialtyInterests.com.'' Retrieved June 28, 2007.</ref> If these shepherds with whom Moses clashed ''were'' Amalekites, then this could have been the first hostile encounter that an Egyptian-trained man had with the race that conquered all of Egypt shortly after the Exodus and held it until the reign of King [[Saul]].
this information belongs on the pages on Moses and the Book of Exodus, but they do not have relevance to the actual exodus out of egypt
The midwives did not openly defy Pharaoh's order. They simply didn't carry it out as he asked. They excused their behavior by saying that Hebrew women were often far advanced in parturition before the midwives even arrived to assist them. Pharaoh's response was as drastic as it was draconian: he ordered his soldiers to throw every boy-child into the [[Nile River]].
The midwives did not openly defy Pharaoh's order. They simply didn't carry it out as he asked. They excused their behavior by saying that Hebrew women were often far advanced in parturition before the midwives even arrived to assist them. Pharaoh's response was as drastic as it was draconian: he ordered his soldiers to throw every boy-child into the [[Nile River]].
=== God Recruits Moses ===
=== God Recruits Moses ===